Combined simulated fireplace and cabinet



.Dec. 26, 1967 D. G. M LENNAN ,3 I

COMBINED SIMULATED FIREPLACE AND CABINET Filed April 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR Daniel 644061888411 ll H F? U TTEQ ATTORNEY Dec. 26; 1967 mfg. M LENNAN COMBINED SIMULATED FIREPLACE AND CABINET Filed April 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nmi a m n \\\\\\\\W\ m m m \E w m. n v HW; zzl ll/YP/ l/z I /\n////// H mm Q 3 6 \3 United States Patent 3,360,317 COMBINED SIMULATED FIREPLACE AND CABINET Daniel G. MacLennan, 3808 Park Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28401 Filed Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 542,784 4 Claims. (Cl. 312204) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application discloses a combined simulated fireplace and cabinet, comprising a mantel having an open front defined by a pair of side walls, a facade section extending across the'entire width of said mantel and closing the open front thereof, vertical hinge means connecting said facade section to one of said side walls whereby the facade section may be swung horizontally outwardly from the mantel, said facade section having a horizontal top wall affording a counter top when the facade section is in its outwardly swung position, a forwardly open simulated firebox provided in said facade section, and rearwardly open compartments provided in the facade section around said firebox, said compartments being accessible when the facade section is swung outwardly from the mantel.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in articles of furniture, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of a combined simulated fireplace and cabinet, such as may be effectively used in living rooms, dens, recreation rooms, offices, and the like.

As such, the device of the invention comprises a mantel having an open front, together with a facade section which extends across the entire width of the mantel and closes the open front thereof, the facade section being provided with a forwardly open simulated firebox to complete the fireplace effect. One side of the facade section is hinged to the mantel so that it may be swung horizontally outwardly therefrom, and in its outwardly swung position the facade section affords a convenient counter top as well as a plurality of rearwardly open storage compartments.

The device of the invention is simple in construction, pleasing in appearance, convenient in use, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combined simulated fireplace and cabinet in its closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the device in its open position.

Referring noW to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention comprises a combined simulated fireplace and cabinet designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The same consists of a mantel 11 including a pair of side walls 12, a back wall 13, a mantel shelf proper 14, and an upper cabinet portion below the shelf 14 containing a central, forwardly open compartment 15 and a pair of side compartments 16 which may be equipped with hinged doors 17, as will be clearly apparent.

The portion of the mantel below the compartments 15, 16 and between the side walls 12 is open at the front thereof, and a facade section 18 closses this open front by extending across the entire width of the mantel, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The facade section 18 includes a pair of side walls 19, a top wall 20, a bottom wall 21, and a pair of front panel members 22. One side of the facade section is connected by a vertical piano hinge 23 to the front edge of one of the side walls 12 of the mantel 11 (see'FIG. 5), so that the entire facade section may be swung horizontally outwardly from the mantel, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In order to eliminate undue strain on the hinge 23, a supporting, floor engaging roller 24 may be provided at the underside of the bottom wall 21 of the facade section at the side thereof remote from the hinge, as will be clearly understood.

The central lower portion of the facade section 18 is provided with a forwardly open firebox 25 having simulated brick lining 26 at the back, top and sides thereof, as well as on its bottom, if so desired. The firebox 25 is a simulation which, as such, may contain fire logs for ornamental purposes rather than for actual fire burning, although as a practical matter the firebox may contain an electrically energized fireplace simulation, if so preferred. The portion of the facade section above the firebox 18 and between the front panel members 22 may also have a simulated brick facing, as indicated at 27, and it will be apparent that when the device is in its closed position, that is, with the facade section 18 swung inwardly into the mantel 11 as shown in FIG. 1, a very realistic fireplace eifect is obtained.

Referring again to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the facade section 18 is provided with shelves defining rearwardly open compartments 28, 29 at the sides and above the firebox 25 respectively, such compartments being accessible when the facade section is swung outwardly to its open position. Also, in that position, the top wall 20 of the facade section affords a convenient counter top.

A fixed horizontal shelf 30 is provided within the mantel 11 on the back wall 13 of the latter, such a shelf having an upstanding ledge or lip 30a along its front edge in order to retain articles in position thereon. The

' shelf 30 is also accessible when the facade section 18 is swung outwardly, and when the facade section is swung inwardly into the mantel, the shelf 30 is conveniently received in the upper compartment 29 of the facade section, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The shelf 30 is somewhat shorter than the Width of the mantel, so as to provide clearance for the side walls 19 of the facade section 18 when the latter is swung to its closed position.

Also, to facilitate opening and closing of the facade section, the outer side wall 19 thereof may be curved or inwardly slanted as shown in the left-hand side of FIG. 5, so as to provide clearance between that side wall and the adjacent side wall 12 of the mantel during the opening and closing movement.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A combined simulated fireplace and cabinet, comprising a mantel having an open front defined by a pair of side walls, a facade section extending across the entire width of said mantel and closing the open front thereof, vertical hinge means connecting said facade section to one of said side walls whereby the facade section may be swung horizontally outwardly from the mantel, said facade section having a horizontal top wall affording a counter top when the facade section is in its outwardly swung position, a forwardly open simulated firebox provided in said facade section, rearwardly open compartments provided in the facade section around said firebox, said compartments being accessible when the facade section is swung outwardly from the mantel, and a fixed horizontal shelf provided in said mantel, said shelf being received in one of said compartments in said facade section when the latter is swung into the mantel.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a floor engaging support roller secured to said facade section at the side thereof remote from said hinge means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,225 6/1918 Sciannamea 312-204 X 1,889,103 11/1932 Naftel et a1. 3 12204 X 2,476,542 7/1949 Gauss 312204 3,216,774 11/1965 Figurski 312204 3,268,282 8/1966 Harvey 312204 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED SIMULATED FIREPLACE AND CABINET, COMPRISING A MANTEL HAVING AN OPEN FRONT DEFINED BY A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, A FACADE SECTION EXTENDING ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF SAID MANTEL AND CLOSING THE OPEN FRONT THEREOF, VERTICAL HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID FACADE SECTION TO ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS WHEREBY THE FACADE SECTION MAY BE SWUNG HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE MANTEL, SAID FACADE SECTION HAVING A HORIZONTAL TOP WALL AFFORDING A COUNTER TOP WHEN THE FACADE SECTION IS IN ITS OUTWARDLY SWUNG POSITION, A FORWARDLY OPEN SIMULATED FIREBOX PROVIDED IN SAID FACADE SECTION, REARWARDLY OPEN COMPARTMENTS PROVIDED IN THE FACADE SECTION AROUND SAID FIREBOX, SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING ACCESSIBLE WHEN THE FACADE SECTION IS SWUNG OUTWARDLY FROM THE MANTEL, AND A FIXED HORIZONTAL SHELF PROVIDED IN SAID MANTEL, SAID SHELF BEING RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS IN SAID FACADE SECTION WHEN THE LATTER IS SWUNG INTO THE MANTEL. 